Kerry chiefs have no issues with David Coldrick’s big match appointment

Kerry have no issue with Meath’s David Coldrick being appointed to referee Sunday week’s All-Ireland final despite the match official both living and working in Dublin.

Coldrick will take charge of his third September decider after previously being the man in the middle for the 2007 Kerry-Cork and ‘10 Cork-Down finals.

Along with fellow county man David Gough, who has been handed duties for the Kerry-Tipperary minor final, Blanchardstown-based Coldrick has had an excellent season and on performance merits the honour. However, his links with the capital are bound to raise an eyebrow as he becomes the first final referee in 17 years to hail from one of the competing counties’ provinces, the last being Longford’s John Bannon in the 1998 Galway-Kildare match. Kerry, though, have no concerns. “David is the leading ref in the country,” said county chairman Patrick O’Sullivan, “and he has reffed many a big game and Kerry are happy with his appointment and hopefully everything goes well for him.”